Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1608’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Sansevieria plant named ‘SUPSAN1608’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact growth habit, broad orbicular plant form, thick succulent foliage with a narrow ovate to lanceolate shape, yellow-green foliage with a silver hue and prominent green mottled radial bands, and the stability of all characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Sansevieria cylindrica.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Sansevieria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘SUPSAN1608’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2016/3007, filed Nov. 30, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The Sansevieria variety ‘SUPSAN1608’ originated as a seedlingselection from the controlled pollination of the proprietary seedparent, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXJRM0061’ (not patented), with theproprietary pollen parent, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXU1806H61’ (notpatented). Both parents were developed by, and are owned by, theinventor and were never commercially released. Said crossing wasconducted by the inventor in a small, netted greenhouse in Chonburi,Thailand in December of 2011. Seeds from said cross were harvested, thengerminated, and the resulting seedlings were grown to a mature size inorder to evaluate for a desirable combination of commercialcharacteristics. In August of 2013, one candidate plant was observed toexhibit a unique growth habit and leaf coloration. After confirmation ofthe distinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed,the inventor selected the new Sansevieria cultivar, ‘SUPSAN1608’, forcommercial introduction.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘SUPSAN1608’ by way ofharvesting vegetative ground shoots was first initiated in August of2013 at Chonburi, Thailand. Access to all plants was restricted, asplants were kept in a greenhouse not open to the public. Throughsubsequent propagation of vegetative ground shoots, five generationshave been reproduced which have shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SUPSAN1608’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and the phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘SUPSAN1608’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘SUPSAN1608’ as a new and distinct Sansevieria cultivar:

-   -   1. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1608’ exhibits a compact, equitant, and        upright to outward growth habit; and    -   2. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1608’ exhibits a vertically flattened,        broad orbicular plant form; and    -   3. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1608’ exhibits thick, succulent foliage        with a narrow ovate to lanceolate shape and terete        cross-section; and    -   4. Sansevieria ‘SUPSAN1608’ exhibits yellow-green foliage with a        silver hue and prominent green mottled radial bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘SUPSAN1608’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Chonburi, Thailand.This plant is approximately 12 months old, shown planted in an 8 cmcontainer.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of‘SUPSAN1608’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in October of 2017,describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 12 month old‘SUPSAN1608’ plants grown in 8 cm containers, at a commercial greenhousein Chonburi, Thailand. The plants were grown using conventionalgreenhouse production protocols for Sansevieria plants which consistedof overhead irrigation, 50% shade cloth, and no fertilizer. Nophotoperiodic or chemical treatments were given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘SUPSAN1608’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘SUPSAN1608’ and comparisons with the parentsand most similar commercial variety of Sansevieria are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Monopodial perennial; equitant and upright to            outward.        -   Plant form.—Vertically flattened, fan-shaped; broad            orbicular.        -   Average height.—10.0 cm.        -   Plant spread.—3.4 cm at the narrowest point, and 15.5 cm at            the widest point.        -   Plant vigor.—Low.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate.        -   Propagation type.—Division of vegetative ground shoots;            harvesting ground shoots from the mother plant.        -   Propagation details.—The time needed to root a shoot            division is approximately 2 to 3 months with temperatures            ranging from approximately 17 to 40 degrees Celsius.        -   Disease resistance.—Plants have not been observed to be            susceptible or resistant to pathogens and pests common to            Sansevieria.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain; moderate to high tolerance to            wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Moderately dense and moderately branched rooting;            roots are slightly fibrous.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately            deep.        -   Diameter of roots.—0.15 cm on average.        -   Texture.—Smooth; no root hairs.        -   Color.—Greyed-yellow, nearest to in between RHS 161B and            161C.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Monopodial, equitant; decurrent leaf bases            form the stem.        -   Number of primary (main) stems per plant.—One.        -   Number of secondary (lateral) branches per plant.—None.        -   Appearance and shape.—Stem is not visible; decurrent leaf            bases form the stem.        -   Length.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an            average length of 4.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—The decurrent leaf bases collectively have an            average diameter of 1.8 cm.        -   Internode length.—0.5 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Distichous.        -   Attachment.—Decurrent.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Quantity.—9.        -   Attitude.—Outward; at an average angle of 70 degrees to            vertical.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 8.5 cm long and 1.8 cm wide. Thickness            — Approximately 1.8 cm. Shape of blade — Narrow ovate to            lanceolate; succulent. Cross-section — Terete. Aspect —            Nearly straight. Apex — Acute with a slightly papery tip on            older leaves, which is colored greyed-white, nearest to RHS            156D. Base — Decurrent. Margin — Leaves are terete so there            are no margins, with the exception of the leaf base; leaf            base margins are entire. Texture of upper surface —            Glabrous, smooth, and succulent. Texture of lower surface —            Glabrous, smooth, and succulent. Luster of the upper surface            — Matte. Luster of the lower surface — Matte. Color —            Juvenile foliage, upper surface — Green, nearest to RHS            138C, with mottled radial bands colored green, nearest to            RHS 139A. Juvenile foliage, lower surface — Green, nearest            to RHS 138C, with mottled radial bands colored green,            nearest to RHS 139A; the base is green, nearest to RHS 143C.            Mature foliage, upper surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            146B, with mottled radial bands colored green, nearest to            RHS 139A. Mature foliage, lower surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 147D, with mottled radial bands colored            green, nearest to RHS 139A; the base is green, nearest to in            between RHS 137A and 137B; margins of the decurrent base are            a translucent yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147D. Venation —            Pattern — Parallel. Color, upper surface — Green, nearest to            RHS N189A. Color, lower surface — Green, nearest to RHS            N189A.        -   Petiole.—No petioles present, leaves are decurrent.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

Comparisons with the Parent Plants

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1608’ differ from the seed parent,Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXJRM0061’ (not patented), by thecharacteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1608’ ‘MXJRM0061’ Growth habit. Morecompact than Less compact than ‘MXJRM0061’. ‘SUPSAN1608’. Foliagelength. Shorter than Longer than ‘MXJRM0061’. ‘SUPSAN1608’. Foliage;apex. More acute than Less acute than ‘MXJRM0061’. ‘SUPSAN1608’. Generalcoloration Darker yellow- Lighter yellow- of the foliage. green. green.Prominence of More prominent Less prominent the color pattern greenmottled green mottled on the foliage. radial bands. radial bands.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1608’ differ from the pollen parent,Sansevieria cylindrica ‘MXU1806H61’ (not patented), by thecharacteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1608’ ‘MXU1806H61’ Growth habit. Morecompact than Less compact than ‘MXU1806H61’. ‘SUPSAN1608’. Rate ofgrowth. Slower growing than Faster growing than ‘MXU1806H61’.‘SUPSAN1608’. Leaf length. Shorter than Longer than ‘MXU1806H61’.‘SUPSAN1608’. General coloration Darker green Lighter green of thefoliage mottled radial . mottle dradial pattern. bands bands.

Comparison with the Most Similar Sansevieria Cultivar Known to theInventor

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SUPSAN1608’ are most similar to thecommercial cultivar, Sansevieria cylindrica ‘SAN201202’ (U.S. Plant Pat.No. 24,457). A comparison of ‘SUPSAN1608’ with ‘SAN201202’ is describedin Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘SUPSAN1608’ ‘SAN201202’ Growth habit. Morecompact than Less compact than ‘SAN201202’. ‘SUPSAN1608’. Plant form.Less flattened. More flattened. Foliage shape. Narrow ovate to Linear;terete. lanceolate; terete. Foliage dimensions. Shorter and broaderLonger and narrower than ‘SAN201202’. than ‘SUPSAN1608’. Foliagethickness. Thicker than Thinner than ‘SAN201202’. ‘SUPSAN1608’. Generalcoloration Yellow-green with Dark green with of the foliage. a silverhue. a silver hue. Prominence of leaf More prominent. Less prominent.venation. Prominence of the color More prominent green Less prominentgreen pattern on the foliage. mottled radial bands. mottled radialbands.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Sansevieriaplant named ‘SUPSAN1608’, substantially as described and illustratedherein.